Adaptive Mobility Services

A handful of OTs and OTAs already expressed interest in the behind-the-wheel, hands-on training this fall. (The Part 2: OT Driver Rehabilitation Specialist Training)

So, I’ve started a waitlist.

Anyone on the waitlist gets a limited-time offer at first priority for a seat in the car when we open enrollment in July.

If you’re even SLIGHTLY interested in taking the Part 2 OT DRS workshop this fall, send me a message with your email — I’ll add you to the list.

🏎️💨 Don’t idle!

OT practitioners interested in entering the specialty practice area of driver rehabilitation AND those who have been practicing for awhile but want to dial in their skills benefit from this workshop.

Where is the line between OTs in general practice and OT Driver Rehab Specialists when it comes to the car?

Here’s where I draw the dividing line:

Preparing for the task of driving vs completing the task of driving.

OT generalists can address anything related to preparing for the task of driving.

As soon as the engine is turned on or we’re talking about an aspect of driving or controlling the vehicle, then it’s in the scope of a specialist.

Anything that is used for the task of driving (turn signal, steering wheel, pedals, mirrors, technology) should be addressed by an OT Driver Rehab Specialist, even if it seems like a straightforward solution.

(I know, I know. OT practitioners are master problem-solvers. But driving is a complex, high-stakes IADL, so don’t modify or adapt anything unless you’re a specialist and trained to do so.)

I explain more in this quick YouTube video:
📽️ https://www.rfr.bz/ff7885b

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this!

Also… if you’re interested in shifting into this incredible specialty practice area, send me an email: [email protected]. I’m hosting a specialist training this fall, and I’d be happy to answer questions and help you figure out if this is the right direction for your career.

Free CEU webinar for both AOTA members and non-members!

Over 900 OTPs signed up for the first part of this three-part series!!

You can earn up to 1.5 hours of CE approved by AOTA. It’s LIVE CE also if your licensing body requires that.

Join me on June 25, 2026, from 2-3:30 ET

Register through AOTA here: https://www.rfr.bz/fb5e408

A HUGE thank you to NMEDA (National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association) for sponsoring this education so we can share more about the IADL of driving with every OT practitioner and student!

Share this with your network and colleagues!

Collaborative Strategies Across Driver Specialties - Part 3 | AOTA This webinar represents the third and final session in this series exploring the role of occupational therapy in driving and community mobility.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘣 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺?

Clients are lost about what happens when they go home.

➡ Do they just start driving when they “feel good enough”?
➡ Does their doctor have to clear them?
➡ Will their family take their keys because they’ve been ill?

There’s no reason to leave clients in limbo.

As an occupational therapy practitioner, YOU can…

➡ Notice the driving PLOF
➡ Assess their driving risk and deficits
➡ Educate the client, family, and care team
➡ Refer to a specialist when appropriate
➡ Share alternative transportation resources as needed

This way, instead of vague or no information, the client (and family) understand what needs to happen to get back behind the wheel SAFELY (if possible) and be empowered to be an active participant in the rehabilitation process.

𝗪𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻! 𝗢𝗧𝗣𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗻𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻.

Remember, you don’t have to have all the answers either.

You can start the conversation, get things rolling, and refer to a specialist, setting your client up for success and safety while remaining firmly within your level of specialization.

This is so important.

Will you do me a favor?

𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝘾𝙀𝙐 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙊𝙏 & 𝘾𝙊𝙏𝘼 𝙣𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙨:
𝗢𝗧𝘀 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴
https://www.rfr.bz/fb83f31

𝗪𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗢𝗧 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗜𝗔𝗗𝗟 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴.

Then your clients and their families can share how awesome their OT team was when they’re back at the library, community groups, or pickleball courts.

Questions, comments, thoughts?

Send them my way. 𝘐’𝘮 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘖𝘛 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴!

I’m a big fan of online CEUs. They make learning more accessible, help busy OT practitioners fit education into real life, and they’re a great way to build knowledge in specialized areas.

> You can watch a demonstration.
> You can study the concepts.
> You can learn the why behind the work.

But there’s something different about practicing a skill in real time, getting immediate feedback, asking follow-up questions on the spot, and feeling how the intervention actually works.

Clinical reasoning and physical technique have to work together.

For me, this is why the conversation should be less about online versus in-person and more about using each format well. Online education can build the foundation. In-person training helps you refine and master the skill. Put them together, and now you’re really moving.

We wrote more about online vs in-person CEUs here: https://www.rfr.bz/f97f613

This is also why I created OT-specific CE that includes online education and in-person, hands-on training. The combination is what makes OT practitioners exceptional specialists!

I have had the honor of working with so many wonderful clients over the years.

Many of these individuals were told at one point or another that they’d never drive again, but with the right equipment and training, they got their independence back!

New technology is developed every year to improve vehicle and driving accessibility for individuals with a variety of disabilities.

This technology often benefits ALL people, too.

If you’ve watched someone struggle to parallel park, you know they’d benefit from the automatic parking feature, right?

It really is an exciting time to be in this field!

Do you use adaptive equipment or technology for driving?
(Or have you worked with someone who has?)

Please share your story and help us spread the word about what is possible!

This type of review feeds my soul! Thank you to all the practitioners who have enjoyed this FREE 3 hour CE.

Title: OTs Role with Driving. Title was fine.

REVIEW: This was a very well done distance education course.

I really appreciated the prompts to download handouts and the written text of the verbal information on the video snippets.

It is marvelous that the role of OT in driving for our clients is finally being addressed in such a thoughtful and straightforward way.

There have been times I wished I could do more for clients/patients but did not feel I had the background.

I appreciate how you pulled it all together and made connections to things we already do as well as defining roles that are beyond our basic scope.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for making this freely available so that all OTs have the opportunity to get this important education and insight!

Rated 5 out of 5

Are you an OTP looking for CE for your June licensure renewal? Check out this FREE online CE approved by American Occupational Therapy Association - AOTA for 3 contact hours!

OTs Role with Driving Explore OTs role with the driving. From the OT generalist completing the driving risk assessment in the clinic, to the OT Driver Rehabilitation Specialist completing a comprehensive driving evaluation in the car, all OTs play a valuable role with promoting engagement in the occupation of driving.

One of the must-have tools in my toolbox is the Brake Reaction Time Tester.

Any practitioner who wants to complete driving risk assessments or specialize and provide driver rehabilitation services should have this equipment. (It doesn’t take up much space and it’s portable!)

I love it for so many reasons — the visual component, observing behaviors, the actual performance, how reaction time changes if distractions occur, and more.

But, as any OT knows, it’s just one piece of a much larger picture of a client’s performance skills and limitations.

When Dr. Anne Dickerson, Dr. Terri Cassidy & I worked on the GRID, we intentionally widened the “middle” range for the Brake Reaction Time Tester to ensure clients weren’t overly restricted or under-restricted based on this one piece of the puzzle.

When you measure brake reaction time, put the data alongside other tests, measures, and your clinical observations. Then you can make recommendations based on the whole picture.

If you aren't familiar with the GRID, you can pick up a free copy here: https://www.rfr.bz/f341041

🚘 Today is the day!
Join us for a free webinar and earn up to 1.5 CEUs.
(Free for AOTA members and non-members!!)

Occupational Therapy's Role in Adaptations and Vehicle Modifications - Part 2 of 3.

Register through the AOTA website:
https://www.rfr.bz/f64fced

🕰️2-3:30PM ET

If you miss it live, you can still register and watch the replay. (You can also still register for Part 1 through AOTA.)

I am SO EXCITED that so many OTPs are interested in driving!! We are changing client outcomes and independence!

Thank you, NMEDA, for sponsoring this educational opportunity for Practitioners!

OT's Role in Adaptations and Vehicle Modifications - Part 2 | AOTA Part 2 of this 3-part series explores the role of the occupational therapy practitioner in collaborating on adapting driving.

🧠 As OT practitioners, we know not all memory loss is Alzheimer’s.

These diagnostic guidelines from Penn Medicine are helping providers better identify LATE—Limbic-predominant Age-related TDP-43 Encephalopathy.

Why does this matter for OT practitioners?

Because LATE can mimic Alzheimer’s but often progresses more slowly, meaning your approach to client education, safety, and function may shift.

Understanding the nuances helps us advocate appropriately and provide better support to our clients and their families.

This information may also affect our recommendations on driving and driving retirement, although we ALWAYS have to consider the big picture, safety, and individual client factors when making recommendations.

📖 It’s worth a read for anyone working with older adults:

Researchers create guidelines to diagnose memory disorder commonly mistaken for Alzheimer’s disease New guidelines will help diagnose a memory-loss disorder often misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s, called limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy.